FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Begins with Scorching Draw in Miami

The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup began on June 14, 2025, at Miami, Florida’s Hard Rock Stadium in a highly awaited Group A opening match between Egyptian behemoth Al Ahly and Inter Miami. Over 60,000 fans filled the stadium, creating an electric atmosphere for the first match of the expanded 32-team tournament, contested from June 14 through July 13 in the United States.

Lionel Messi, in charge of Inter Miami, threatened to snatch it in the dying seconds, but Al Ahly goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy staged a performance for the ages. Mohamed punched a curling long-range strike by Messi onto the crossbar in the 96th minute, preserving a 0-0 stalemate. Earlier, in the 60th minute, Messi’s dangerous free kick narrowly missed the post, while Inter Miami goalkeeper Oscar Ustari weathered heavy first-half pressure from Al Ahly, including a penalty miss by Trezeguet in the 43rd minute.

Al Ahly dominated possession and created lots of opportunities during the opening 45 minutes, with striker Wessam Abou Ali voicing frustration at missed opportunities, stating, “We had enough chances to be up by three or four goals.” Javier Mascherano’s Inter Miami evened their match after the break, with Tadeo Allende coming close to scoring in the 51st minute, but his effort was thwarted by El Shenawy’s point-blank block.
The match underlined the global nature of the tournament, with the North American flashy approach matched by African grit. FIFA President Gianni Infantino had referred to the competition as a “new era” for club football, comparing it to the inaugural 1930 World Cup. While there were concerns that ticket sales would be poor, FIFA last-minute offers like cheap tickets for students ensured a full crowd.

Both sides earned a point in the close Group A, which also includes Brazil’s Palmeiras and Portugal’s Porto. Inter Miami then heads to Atlanta to face Porto on June 19 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, while Al Ahly faces Palmeiras. The result sets the stage for a thrilling group stage, with both sides still alive to reach the Round of 16.
The FIFA Club World Cup 2025, hosted on the best U.S. facilities, promises a month of edge-of-your-seat football. All 63 matches will be broadcast live and free to watch on DAZN as clubs
Six confederations compete for the prestige title, with the final on July 13 at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium.

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